Heating apparatus



A. B. MODINE' HEATING APPARATUS Aug. 27,1929.

Fildllay 6', 1925 3.Sheets-Shee t 1 A. a. MOD INE HEATING APPARATUS Filed m 6, 1925 Aug. 27, l 92 9.

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Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR B. MODINE, OF RAOIIilE, WISCONSIN.

HEATING .errana'rus.

Application .filed ma 6,

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as heating systems and relates more particularly to a heating apparatus particularly adapted for use in large shops, assembly halls, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and the like, although the same may of course be used wherever found applicable. The invention has among its objects the production of a unit heater of the kind described that is simple, convenient, efficient, compact, light weight and comparatively inexpensive. More particularly it has as an object the production of a device of large capacity or efficiency, and yet of such weight that it may be suspended or supported from suitable supporting means above the floor without requiring heavy, bulky and cumbersome supports. It also has as an object the production of a device of the kind de scribed upon which a power driven fan may be mounted in such a manner that the power element, particularly if an electrical motor. is protected from dirt and excessive heat. In the preferred construction, the motor is air cooled. Many other objects and advantages'of the construction-herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end, my. invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hegain shown and described,-

and more particularly pointed out in the claims. 2

In the drawings, wherein characters indicate like or parts: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved heating units;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, with a portion K like reference correspondmg broken away to show the construction- Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substan tially on line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, the top plate removed.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, 1 represents a main or pipe such as a steam pipe, which may be controlled by a valve (not shown) and may be supported by hangers 2 or any equivalent supporting means from a ceiling, wall or the like, I have 1925. Serial No. 28,369.

illustrated a standard return pipe 3, it being understood that this may be a return pipe or a vented pipe provided with the usual ail the manifold 4 is a heating unit or radiator construction 15, which I prefer to make in a form very similar to an automobile radiator the same in the particular device illustrate consisting of tubes. or pipes 16 communicating with chambers at the top and bottom and carrying fins or'thin sheet metal plates 17. The manifolds 4 and '11 communicate with the top and'bottom chambers respectively of the radiators 15, the manifolds 4 and 11 being secured to the radiators by bolts 18, or the equivalent. It will be noted that the manifolds 4 and 11 are positioned to balance each other.

Secured to aligned surfaces of the radiators 15 is a front plate 19 in an aperture of which is mounted an annulus 20. An elec tric motor 23 is suspended fromthe manifold 4 by rods 24 which are secured to 'flanges 25 formed integral. with the manifold 4. The motor 23 is provided with a shaft 26 to the outer end of which are secured a plurality of inclined vanes 27, the

vanes being disposed within the annulus 20,

' and being adapted to draw air through the radiators 15 when the motor shaft 26 is rotated in the proper direction.- The flow of air through the radiators 15 and through the annulus 20 is indicated by arrows inthe manifolds 4 and 11. Secured to the rear edge surfaces of the radiators 15 is a back plate 34 and secured to the upper edge surfaces of the radiators is a top plate 35. The chamber, which is defined by the bent plate 29, the back wall 34. and the top wall 35, is

closed at its'lower end by a wire mesh 36 and a felt pad 37. The wire mesh 36 and the felt pad 37 permit the vanes 27 to draw air past the motor 23 to cool it, such air being drawn through the aperture 31 and projected from the apparatus by the vanes 27 to mix with the heated air, flowing .from the radiators 15. The wire mesh 36 and the felt pad 37 screen dust from the air flowing to the motor 23. When the apparatus is subjected to chemical fumes, the pad 37 may be treated with suitable chemicals to remove or neutralize these fumes, thus prei'rinting injury thereby to the motor 23; However in some instances the wire mesh 36 and felt pad 37 may be dispensed with entirely.

Pivotall mounted adjacent the upper edge of t e frontv plate 19 is .a plate 39, which may be secured in a plurality of adjust'ed positions to deflect the current of air flowing from the vanes 27. The means for securing the plate 29 in these positions in the desired direction in the vertical plane which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft 26. I

' When the apparatus is in operation, steam is supplied to the radiators 15 by way of the steam pipe 1, the nipples 6 and 7 and the manifold 4. The electric motor 23 is connected with any suitable source of electrical energy (not shown), whereupon the vanes 27 draw the air through the radiators 15. This air is heated by the radiators and is then \projected against the plate 39 which deflects it in the manner above described. The motor 23 is cooled by the air which is drawn-through the wire mesh 36 and the felt pad 37. It is obvious that the unions 8 and 11 permit the apparatus to be adjusted around a vertical axis so that by suitably adjusting both the apparatus as a whole and the plate 39- by'itself, the'heated air may be directed to any desired portion of a room.

Having thus described'my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications'may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as l miting myself to the exact form, constructlon, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, spaced heating units, a fan for advancing air through said heating units, means interposed between the fan and the heating units for dividing the air into independent columns, and means for mounting said heating units, said fan and said dividing means whereby they are adjustable as a unit around an axis of rotation.

2. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a heating unit, means including an electric motor for advancing air through said heating. unit and to the motor, means for screening the air flowing to said motor, and means for mounting said heating unit, said air advancing means and said screening means whereby they are adjustable as a unit around an axis of rotation.

3. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, spaced heating units, a

manifold common to said units for-connect,

ing them with a supply of heated fluid, an electric motor suspended from the manifold and carried solely thereby, and means driven b the electric motor for advancing indepen ent columns of air through the heating units.

4. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, spaced heating units, a manifold common to said units for connecting them with a supply of heated fluid, an electric motor carried solely by the manifold, and means driven by the electric motor for advancing air through the heating units.

5. In combination with a fluid supply pipe, a manifold communicating with and carried by the pipe, a heating unitcommunicating with the manifold and supported thereby, and means carried solely by the manifold for advancing air through. the heating unit.

6. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame, a radiator unit carried by the frame,

means-carried by the frame for advancing air through said radiator unit, and means for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiatorunit being in communication with said supply pipe.

7. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame, a radiator unit carried by the frame, means carried by the frame for advancing air through said radiator unit, and tubular means for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator unit communicatin with said fluid supply pipe through said tubular means.

8. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame, a radiator unit carried by the frame, means carried by the frame for advancing air through said radiator unit, and adjustable tubular means for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator unit communicating with said fluid supply pipe through said tubular means v 9. In apparatus of the klnd described, a frame, a radiator unit carried by the frame,

means carried by the frame for advancing air through said radiator unit, and tubular means including a pipe union for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, sa d radiator unit communicating with said fluld pipe through said tubular means.

10. In apparatus of the kind described, a

7 frame, a radiator unit carried by the frame,

. air through said radiator unit, adjustable tubular means for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator unit communicating with said fluid supply pipe through said tubular means, and adjustable tubular means disposed coaxially with said first-mentioned tubular means for connecting said radiator unit with a drain pipe.

12. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame, a radiator unit carried by the frame, means carried b the frame for advancing air through said radiator unit, tubular means including a pipe union for suspending the-frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator unit communicatin with said fluid supply pipe through said tu ular means, and means including a pipe union disposed coaxially with said first-mentioned tubular means for connecting said radiator unit to a drain pipe. I

l3. In-apparatus of the kind described, a heating unit, means fixed with respect to said heating unit for advancing air therethrough, and means for suspending the heating unit and the air advancing means from a fluid supply pipe, said heating unit being in communication with said pipe.

14. In apparatus of the kind described, a heating unit, means fixed with respect to said heating unit for advancin air therethrough, and means including tu ular means for suspending the heating unit and the air advancin means from a fluid supply pipe, said heatmg unit communicating with said pipe through said tubular means.

15. In apparatus of the kind described, a

heating unit, means fixed with respect to said heating unit for advancing air therethrough, and means including adjustable tubular means for suspending the heating unit and the air advancing means from a fluid supply pipe, said heating unit communicating with said pipe through said tubular means.

16. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame, a plurality of spaced radiator units carried by the frame, means carried by the frame for advancing independent columns of air through sald radiator units, and

.means for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator units being in communication with said fluid supply pipe.

17. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame, a plurality of spaced radiator units carried by the frame, means carried by the frame for advancing independent columns of air through said radiator units, and tubular means for suspending the frame from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator units communicating with said fluid supply pipe through said tubular means.

18. In apparatus of the kind described andin combination, a heating unit, means for advancing air therethrough, adjustable means for deflecting the air as it passes from the heating unit, and tubular means for suspending said heating unit, said air advancing means and said deflecting means as a unit from a fluid supply pipe, said tubular means including adjustable means whereby said heating unit, said air advancing means and said deflecting means may be adjusted as a unit around an axis of rotation.

as a unit around an axis of rotation common to both of them.

20. In apparatus ofthe kind described, a

being adapted to permit displacement of sald radiator and said air advancing means radiator, means for advancing air through said radiator, tubular means including adjustable means for supporting said radiator and said air advancing means as a unit from a fluid supply pipe, said radiator being in communication with said pipe through said tubular means, a second tubular means including adjustable means for connecting said radiator to a drain, said second tubular means being aligned With the first-mentioned tubular means in such manner that said radiator and said air advancing means may be adjusted as a unit around an axis of rotation.

21. In apparatus of the kind described, a heating unit, an electrical motor having a shaft, said heating unit and the axis of said' shaft being disposed in planes fixed with respect to each other, a tan driven by said shaft for advancing air through said heating unit, a pipefor supplying fluid to. said heat- 1ng unit, said heating unit and said motor and fan being supported by said pipe, and

a pipe for draining said heating unit.

22. In combination with a heating unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means connecting said tanks, of an electric motor having a shaft, said heating unit and said shaft being disposed in planes fixed with respect to each other, a fan driven by said shaft for advancing air through said heatsaid aperture to draw air through said radiator units and over said motor.

24. A heat exchange unit of the character described adapted to be connected with an overhanging fluid supply pipe, said unit comprising a casing, a radiator mounted therein, a motor and fan within the casing and fixed with respect thereto for advancing air through theradiator, and a connection between said casing and said fluid supply ipe.

p 25. A heat exchange unit of the character described adapted to be supported from an overhead support, said unit comprising a casing having an upper wall, a heating element, and a motor and fan associated therewith and fixedly secured with respect thereto, means for supplying fluid, to said heatin element, and a connection between sai motor and said upper wall.

26. The combination with a radiator comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks, of a rigid member for connecting one of said tanks to an overhead support, and means rigidly secured to said rigid member and fixed with respect to said radiator for advancing air therethrough. i

27. A heat exchange unit of the character described adapted toibesupported from an overhead support, said unit comprising a casing, a heating element and a motor and fan associated therewith and fixedly secured with respect thereto, means for supplying heatingv media to the heating element, ad-

justable means for supporting the'unit to the H overhead support whereby the unit may be fixedly secured in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions to discharge heated an.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.- A

ARTHUR B. MODINE. 

